I have an anatomically shorter left leg by about 15 mm. I know, I know—EVERYBODY is asymmetrical, you say. And you’re right! But if that discrepancy becomes painful or limits ADLs (activities of daily living), and something simple can be done about it without surgery... well, why not try it?

**Notice the great tapering job on the toes! Left sole has been modified.**

As you all know, I’ve been refining my homestyle “massage” technique pretty diligently over the last eight years. About seven years ago, I was able to fully release my spine painlessly. But dagnabbit, the work didn’t stick, and I ended up in more pain than before. I couldn’t figure out why that was happening—until I started to think about what my spine was “sitting” on.

It was time to address my leg length discrepancy (LLD). I had seen an orthopedic surgeon in my late twenties about my chronic knee and back pain. I told the physician that my left leg was much shorter than my right. The doctor sighed and reluctantly pulled out some wood shims. In a cursory, almost dismissive fashion, he took measurements, chatting all the while about how we all have a longer leg and a shorter leg—and how even if I did have an anatomically short leg, it probably had nothing to do with my back pain.

**Shortleg Bigfoot Seen Riding Pinboard in Converse!**

His tune changed a bit when he realized my leg was over 15 mm (about 5/8 of an inch) shorter. He said, “Well, you probably want to avoid long-distance running. Your spine has stopped growing, and your body has adapted to the short leg, so there’s really nothing to be done.” I asked, “What about shoe inserts or wearing a thicker sole on my shorter leg?” The doctor shrugged. “You could try it, I guess.”

**Crossfit ready! Love my zero-drop shoes and liberated toes!**

That was all the permission I needed to start addressing my leg-length-induced knee and back pain. I began modifying my footwear to include an additional 15 mm lift in my left shoe. If any of you are interested in the services I used to customize my shoes or want specific recommendations, shoot me an email! As soon as the modified shoes arrived, I re-released my spine and stepped into PROPERLY lifted footwear. It wasn’t an instant healing, but I felt like my feet were finally both exerting themselves evenly.

48 hours later, I woke up and slipped into my modified sandals. I felt AMAZING.

**A foot lift shouldn't be noticeable from a quick glance.**

Since then, I’ve had almost ZERO knee or back pain. (The “almost” comes from me being a stubborn, egoistic, middle-aged man who decided he could move 400 pounds of flagstone by himself. Wheelbarrow be damned!) The flagstone won, and I had to recommit to being pain-free and knowing my limits. Keeping my back and body pain-free is a daily practice. Oh, and apparently, no amount of physical therapy can cure my stubbornness.

Getting my footwear modified wasn’t cheap or convenient, but the benefits have been enormous! I’ve added the 15 mm full foot lift into almost all of my shoes—everything from flip-flops to heavy-duty boots. I’d be happy to share my experiences with anyone interested.

Here are some pics of my short-leg shoe collection. I’d love to hear from anyone else who wears lifts or deals with leg length issues that cause low back pain! I’m happy to answer questions or provide recommendations for anyone interested in some spine-friendly kicks.